Apple's next iPhone may skip its patented Touch ID and rely on facial recognition technology to unlock the device, according to a patent application filed by the Cupertino-based company in September last year.

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The " target="_blank">patent's technology would "capture images, analyze the images to detect a user's face, and automatically lock the device in response to determining that a user's face does not appear in the images."

Competitor Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S8 will reportedly used facial, eye and fingerprint recognition to verify users who wish to access certain features like Samsung Pay.

Apple hasn't confirmed if it will use iris scanners to access Apple Pay.

The company's next smartphone, which will most likely be called the iPhone 8 or iPhone X, could use several different sensors to detect movement, verifying whether or not the user is facing the camera. If the device detects its owner's face,it will unlock. If the phone hasn't been moved for a period of time, the technology could scan the environment for its user's face and lock itself if he or she isn't present.

Apple will release its next iPhone this fall, and some speculate that the device may come with the hefty price tag of more than $1,000.